An MBSE approach to support Knowledge Based Engineering application development

This article proposes a novel approach to support Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) application development based on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). In this methodology, the related knowledge is captured in a well-structured Systems Modeling Language (SysML) model, instead of (static) documents. The knowledge model is then automatically translated to application (skeleton) code using a model-to-code tool developed in this research. The proposed methodology is applied to a use case at GKN Fokker Elmo for the development of a KBE application to design Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) architectures for aircraft. The results show that the proposed MBSE approach improves the knowledge acquisition process, reduces the time needed for developing new KBE applications (initial knowledge model and code skeleton) by almost 50%, and enables traceability of requirements within the KBE application and knowledge model. These benefits allow effective project-to-project knowledge transfer while mitigating the black-box effect often experienced by KBE application users. In the next phase of this research, reverse engineering capabilities will also be incorporated to enable code-to-model translation, so as to guarantee the application code and knowledge model synchronization throughout the application's lifetime.